Adjudicated mentally ill - Atheist Nexus2017-12-14T02:36:43Zhttp://atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/adjudicated-mentally-ill?groupUrl=hangwithfriends&xg_source=activity&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThank you Melinda. I feel ver…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-04-20:2182797:Comment:22172562013-04-20T17:48:08.706ZAngelahttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/Angela142
Thank you Melinda. I feel very grateful for what I have.
Thank you Melinda. I feel very grateful for what I have. Anthony, I at first hesitated…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-04-20:2182797:Comment:22168102013-04-20T03:18:26.815ZAngelahttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/Angela142
Anthony, I at first hesitated to reply to this thread for fear that I would just be seen as someone jumping on the bandwagon of despair.<br />
I can very much relate to your pain as I too suffer from chronic depression and anxiety. My childhood and the childhood of my sisters (I have three) was filled with terror from our abusive, narcissistic mother. I used to pray to god to help us escape from our lives of abuse and ridicule. That help never came. Nor did help come from any source. Our father and…
Anthony, I at first hesitated to reply to this thread for fear that I would just be seen as someone jumping on the bandwagon of despair.<br />
I can very much relate to your pain as I too suffer from chronic depression and anxiety. My childhood and the childhood of my sisters (I have three) was filled with terror from our abusive, narcissistic mother. I used to pray to god to help us escape from our lives of abuse and ridicule. That help never came. Nor did help come from any source. Our father and his parents were so afraid of our mother that an intervention would have been impossible. Sadly my mother is still alive and I have learned through years of therapy that there was nothing I did that caused her to be such a miserable human being. I have very limited contact with her or any of my sisters. The mistrust of each other my mother bred into us has had long-reaching ramifications. Two of my sisters are alcoholic/drug addicts and another has just walked away completely. My father passed away two years ago.<br />
I realized in my teens that there was no one " watching over us" and the notion that "everything happens for a reason" is just so much happy horseshit.<br />
But I do have a wonderful supportive husband and two amazing daughters.<br />
I take my meds, marvel at the wonder of nature and the delightful way that life has of surprising me. I take nothing for granted because I know this one life is all we get. Oddly enough, my husband is Christian , my daughters and son-in-law are atheist. We call ourselves a blended family for that reason. We have respect for each others beliefs and there is no tension from my husband to change us. If he has ever been disappointed in our daughters decision to not believe the fairy tales, he has never shown it. We will celebrate our 32 wedding anniversary tomorrow.<br />
I just want you to know that I understand your pain. I am so happy to have found this community of kind and helpful people. I am more of a lurker than poster, but when something moves me as your post did, I will share my story.<br />
I wish you all the best and look forward to reading more .<br />
<br />
Angela It sucks to be depressed and…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-04-20:2182797:Comment:22169302013-04-20T01:58:11.221ZRuth Anthony-Gardnerhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/RuthAnthonyGardner
<p>It sucks to be depressed and haunted by traumatic experiences.</p>
<p>I assume you've tried medication and counseling.</p>
<p>Were I in your situation, I'd look for a way to free my mind from the past, to pay attention to the present and find new sources of joy and comfort such as a friendly cat or dog, and a hobby.</p>
<p>My own tendencies toward mental illness manifest as escapist fantasy. Along those lines one might try the games where you build an imaginary city or island, or Second…</p>
<p>It sucks to be depressed and haunted by traumatic experiences.</p>
<p>I assume you've tried medication and counseling.</p>
<p>Were I in your situation, I'd look for a way to free my mind from the past, to pay attention to the present and find new sources of joy and comfort such as a friendly cat or dog, and a hobby.</p>
<p>My own tendencies toward mental illness manifest as escapist fantasy. Along those lines one might try the games where you build an imaginary city or island, or Second Life. Anything to stop thinking about the past and start anew. The idea is to create the possibility of a success or pleasant time, to break the cycle of old thoughts pulling you down now. I'd also try strategies to stop those thoughts and memories whenever they came. I tend to rehearse my internal dialogues when I want to stop unwanted thoughts. I talk to my child ego state from my adult and parent ego states, explaining why it's good to stop thinking the unhelpful thoughts dragging me down, cajoling myself, even giving myself playful injunctions such as, "Stomp on the bad thought, it's an ant!" Yes I'd even stomp my foot to act out stopping the thought. And I'd have a bunch of better thoughts and distractions ready to switch to, pretty, shiny, happy, exciting, awesome or adventurous images or activities.</p>
<p>Well, those are my strategies for my life. Good luck, Anthony.</p> Anthony, it takes a very cour…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-04-19:2182797:Comment:22165072013-04-19T17:43:15.201ZThe Flying Atheisthttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/TheFlyingAtheist
<p>Anthony, it takes a very courageous person to put such strong personal emotions and details about your life into a public forum. I commend you for your trust in us. Thank you. As Chris said, you have responded to horrible events in your life in a manner that most others would have as well. I know major depression causes tremendous turmoil, and I understand the feelings of helplessness and pain that plague you. Despite your past, perhaps in the coming years you'll be able to find a way…</p>
<p>Anthony, it takes a very courageous person to put such strong personal emotions and details about your life into a public forum. I commend you for your trust in us. Thank you. As Chris said, you have responded to horrible events in your life in a manner that most others would have as well. I know major depression causes tremendous turmoil, and I understand the feelings of helplessness and pain that plague you. Despite your past, perhaps in the coming years you'll be able to find a way to experience and enjoy your life more positively. Thanks for sharing. Be well, friend. </p> Again, not a "Like" but an ap…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-04-19:2182797:Comment:22166272013-04-19T17:25:54.054ZJoan Denoohttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/JoanDenoo
<p>Again, not a "Like" but an appreciation to you, Anthony, for sharing your story with us. I can testify to my fact that the only thing I could find was to share my story with others; it has been the only healing method I could find. I do hope sharing with us will be healing for you. </p>
<p>I am very sorry to learn of your early childhood experiences and your deep depressions. Your memories sound like "mindbindings" that keep you locked into your memories. Mindbindings are thoughts one has…</p>
<p>Again, not a "Like" but an appreciation to you, Anthony, for sharing your story with us. I can testify to my fact that the only thing I could find was to share my story with others; it has been the only healing method I could find. I do hope sharing with us will be healing for you. </p>
<p>I am very sorry to learn of your early childhood experiences and your deep depressions. Your memories sound like "mindbindings" that keep you locked into your memories. Mindbindings are thoughts one has that bind one to dysfunctional behavior. In my case, my mind was bound into thinking abuse was normal, and I could survive by finding ways to cope. Coping is necessary for surviving, but not for thriving. </p>
<p>I respect your courage to put your trust in us; you probably know by now that this site is a place for healing as well as thriving. </p> You have had a difficult life…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-04-19:2182797:Comment:22163132013-04-19T15:18:11.272ZSteph S.http://atheistnexus.org/profile/StephS
<p>You have had a difficult life Anthony. Sorry to hear of all that sorrow you went through.</p>
<p>I am happy you made it to the site. You make such wonderful contributions here.</p>
<p></p>
<p>You have had a difficult life Anthony. Sorry to hear of all that sorrow you went through.</p>
<p>I am happy you made it to the site. You make such wonderful contributions here.</p>
<p></p> Anthony, you and James are bo…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-04-19:2182797:Comment:22164682013-04-19T12:54:56.621ZPathttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/Pat46
<p>Anthony, you and James are both correct. There is no hell in which the murderer is suffering, or a heaven where you sister and mother are getting a better deal than they had in life. And, all the cliches about gods, heavens, hell, and spirit worlds are nothing more than wishful thinking outside the realm of reality. There is one thing that is reality based, and that's human empathy. A desire to try and understand a person's situation, and demonstrate compassion. I'll echo James. Take…</p>
<p>Anthony, you and James are both correct. There is no hell in which the murderer is suffering, or a heaven where you sister and mother are getting a better deal than they had in life. And, all the cliches about gods, heavens, hell, and spirit worlds are nothing more than wishful thinking outside the realm of reality. There is one thing that is reality based, and that's human empathy. A desire to try and understand a person's situation, and demonstrate compassion. I'll echo James. Take care.</p> I sympathize with those suffe…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-04-19:2182797:Comment:22165332013-04-19T12:31:30.091ZJames M. Martinhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/JamesMMartin
<p>I sympathize with those suffering depression. In a lesser way all of us are depressed from time to time, but not clinically. Clinical depression was the malady of William Stryon, the novelist, who wrote a book about it, and I would recommend it to you. Meanwhile, I trust you have meds that will help. Your family history is depressing as it is. The problem with being an atheist is that we are robbed of the usual cliches, such as "God bless you" or "My heart and prayers go out to you." …</p>
<p>I sympathize with those suffering depression. In a lesser way all of us are depressed from time to time, but not clinically. Clinical depression was the malady of William Stryon, the novelist, who wrote a book about it, and I would recommend it to you. Meanwhile, I trust you have meds that will help. Your family history is depressing as it is. The problem with being an atheist is that we are robbed of the usual cliches, such as "God bless you" or "My heart and prayers go out to you." These themselves are depressing enough since they are such nonsense and so widely expressed. Even, "I hope...." which Nietzsche said was the worst of the lot, since it provides false promises of a better future. For some, there is none. The only cliched commiseration I use and use it here: take care!</p> Hi Anthony,
I would rather sa…tag:atheistnexus.org,2013-04-19:2182797:Comment:22162072013-04-19T09:04:56.384ZPliniushttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/Plinius
<p>Hi Anthony,</p>
<p>I would rather say that you reacted normally to abnormal and horrible conditions, and I hope you'll find the strength to enjoy the enjoyable things in life. You know what they say - and I think they're right - that ´normal´ people don't exist. </p>
<p>Hi Anthony,</p>
<p>I would rather say that you reacted normally to abnormal and horrible conditions, and I hope you'll find the strength to enjoy the enjoyable things in life. You know what they say - and I think they're right - that ´normal´ people don't exist. </p>